Gun silencer and scavenger



16, 1940- J. L. BROWN GUN SILENCER AND SCAVENGER Filed July 12, 1939 4Streaks-Sheet l %N mw swam 00w July 16, 1949- J. I... BROWN GUN SILENCERAND SCAVENGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12. 1959 gwua/wtom John L.Brown wrrwEISS 27%. w W M J. .1... BROWN GUN SILENGER AND SCAVENGER 4SHeets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1939 J'oh n L. Brown July 16, 1940.

J. L. BROWN- GUN SILENGER AND SCAVENGER Filed July 12. 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESS V- 2004M Patented July 16, 1940 ill 208,093 enssnnscaa TENT .5311;

w scAvENGEa' John L. Brown, Momence, Ill. Application July 12, 1939,8811No. 284,098

15 Claims.

The present disclosure of the invention is particularly adapted for usewith variouskinds of '75 m. m; guns, mountain guns, anti-tank guns andsmall naval guns, but it will be understood to those skilled inthe artthat the invention is adaptable also to guns of other caliber and ofother varieties. With the foregoing in view, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, descriptionbeing accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 isa perspective view with the removable side plate removed.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. i. I

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing thescavenging valves open.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line t-t of Fig. 1 showing thevalves closed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the baffie assembly removed from thecasing.

Figure 7 is a disassembled perspective view of the upper valve.

Figure 8 is a similar view of the lower valve.

Figure 9 is substantially a central vertical longitudinal section partlybroken away.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be ratherspecifically described, with the.

understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention asclaimed, variations'may be made.

An elongated casing it is shown, the top it, bottom it and one verticalside it of said casing being preferably formed integrally with eachother. The front plate is, rear plate 20 and the second side wall it,however, are preferably detachably secured in place. Screws 22 are shownfor securing the front and rear plates I9 and 29 in place, said screwsbeing threaded into suitable flanges 23 on the sidewall IS, the top Itand the bottom i'l. Bolts 2% have been shown for securing the removableside wall M in place, said bolts passing through longitudinal flanges 2!formed on the top and bottom I B and I1, re-

spectively. The rear plate it carries a rigid nipto provide for drivingthe pie :6 to be threadedonto the muzzle-of the gun barrel, said nippleand end plate being rela tively braced by suitable webs 27.

Within the rear portion of the casing is, asset of relatively smallbaffles '28 is provided having their edges spaced from the top, bottomand side walls of said casing. In the intermediate portion of thecasing-I provide another set of baflles 29 which are disposed relativelyfar apart. In the front portion of the casing, I also pro- 'vide a thirdset or series of bafiles which are disposed in relatively closerelation. The edges of all of the bailles 28 and 30 are preferably insubstantial contact with the top, bottom and side walls'of the casingand all of these battles are rigidly tied together, for instance, by alongitudinal tie rod 3| passing thrqugh the upper ends of said baflles,and nuts 32 on said rod and abutting said baiiles. One of the bafiles 80and one of the bafiles. 29 are preferably providedeach with a flange 33into which screws 36 are threaded, said screws securing the bames to.the

removable side wall 2!. The relatively small baffies 2B are preferablywelded or otherwise secured to a pair of rearwardly projecting plates 35which are in turn welded or otherwise secured to the rearmost of thebaffles 29. Interposed between the lower portions of the front baiiies,3i] and the intermediate baffles 29, are transversely. inclined plates36 which are welded or otherwise secured to said battles and perform afunction hereinafter described. Two similar plates '36 are disposedunder the small bafiies 28 and are secured to the latter and to therearmost of the bafies 29.

The various baffles 28, 29 and 30 are unitarily connected by means ofthe arms 35, tie rod 3i and downwardly converging plates 36 and 3t, andthis entire unit may be bodily removed from the casing l5 for repair,when the side wall M is removed. When reinserting the batlie unit, it isheld in place solidly against the rear wall or plate Zli, by means ofthe screws 36. The bafile unit is necessarily somewhat shorter than thecasing in order that it may pass between the flanges 23 of the front andrear end plates I 8 38' is formed through said top over the smallbafiies 28. Immediately behind this inlet 38', are one or more forwardlydeclined nipples 39 which are also intended to admit compressed air.

The casing bottom |1 formed with discharge slots for the compressed air,smoke, flame and gases, and the plates 36 and 36' downwardly converge tothese discharge slots from the sides It! and 2| of the casing to guidethe compressed air, smoke, etc.-downwardly'to said slots. One

valve assembly 4| is mounted upon the casing top It and is provided witha compressed air inlet 42 for connection with a hose or the like 43leading from a suitablesource of compressed air. The valve assembly 4|includes a rotatable valve member 6| which cuts off communicationbetween the inlet 42 and the air admission ports, 36 and 39 until theprojectile has left the silencer, and is then intended to establish thenecessary communication to cause forcible downward blast of compressedair to be directed across the casing between the baflles, driving outthe products of combustion through the discharge slots 40. Another valveassembly 63 extends longitudinally of the casing bottom l1 and includesa rotatable valve member 44 which is intended to prevent communicationbetween the discharge slots 40 and the atmosphere until after theprojectile has left the silencer, and is intended to then establish saidcommunication. In order that the upper and lower valve members 4| and 44shall move simultaneously from closed to open position and vice versa, Iprovide the rear'ends of said valves with crank arms 42' and 44respectively, and connect said crank arms by a' vertical link 45. Thearm 42' is extended beyond the link and provided with a suitable handle46. When this handle is in raised positionas seen in Fig. 4, the fluidadmission and discharge ports are all closed and the valves remain inthese positions until the projectile has passed through the silencer.

Then, the handle 46 is forced downwardly tOIthe. 1

position. shown in Fig. 3, thus simultaneously effecting opening of boththe upper and the lower valves, with the result that compressed air isforcibly'directed downwardly across the interior of the casing and outthrough the discharge slots,

carrying with it all products of combustion which would otherwiseaccumulate and interfere with accurate flight of the next projectile.The nozzles 39. in addition to assisting in downwardly discharging theproducts of combustion, direct oblique jets of compressed air across thefront end of the nipple 36 which forms a continuation of the gun muzzle,and said nipple thus eflects an aspirating action upon remaining gasesin the V gun barrel. The rear baffles 28 perform the initial breaking upof the gas and smoke, plume as it leaves the gun barrel, more breakingupis effected by the baflies 28, and the final breaking up isdone by thebaflies '30. All smoke, gases and flame mix with. the compressed airdownwardly discharged across the interior of the casing, and

escape with it to the atmosphere. The discharge valve being atthebottom, flame will not be as visible at night, as otherwise,particularly to pilots and others flying overhead.

I The air admission valve assembly 4| preferably includes a tubularcasing 41 for the valve 4|, thel'atter being also tubular, said casing41 having peripheral grooves 48 in which clamp members v49 are received,said clamp members being secured to the casing top l6, the casing 41being thus held against endwiseand other movements. The bottom 50 of thecasing 41. is preferably flat fornontact with-the casing top l6,. andsaid bpttom is provided with appropriate ports 5|, 5| and 52 forregistration with the admission slots 38, 38' and the nipples 89respec,-

' of the casing 41.

' compressed air or the like.

silencer.

' this same end with the arm 42. This arm abuts the rear end of thecasing 41, and a nut 53 is threaded on the front end of the valve toabut the front end of said casing, rotatably mounting the valve forholding it against other movement. This valve is provided with suitableports 54, 56' and 55' for coaction with the ports 5|, 5! and 52 Thevalve 4| is, of course, inserted into the casing 41 from the'rear andthe nut 53 is then applied.

The emission or discharge valve assembly 46 includes a tubular casing 56mounted in the same manner as the casingv 41, the upper flattened sideof said casing 56 beirig provided with ports at communicating withthedischarge slots 4|). The lower side of the casing 56 is provided withsimi lar ports 58. The rotary valve member 44 which is received in thecasing 56 is provided in its upper and lower sides with ports 59 and 66for communication with the ports 51 and 58 respectively. When the valve44 is inserted into the casing 56 from the rear, its .arm 46' abuts thefront end of said casing. A nut 6|' is then threaded upon the front endof the valve to abut the front end of said casing.

As to operation, with both the upper and lower valves 4| and 44 closed,the gun is fired. The handle 46 is then pushed downwardly to open bothvalves, whereupon downward blasts of compressed air (or other scavengingfluid) are directed across the casing between the baflles and obliquelyforward from the nozzles 39, driving out all products of combustion asthese products are broken up by the bailies and mixed with the By thuseffectively scavenging the silencer after each shotfno ac= cumulatedgases remainto interfere with accurate flight of the next projectile.Moreover, an effective cooling operation is performed, not only on thesilencer itself but upon the gun barrel, as the aspirating effect of thenozzles 39, drawing out products of combustion from the barrel, tends tokeep the latter somewhat cooler.

As excellent results may be obtained fromthe general construction shownand described, it is preferably followed. However, within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, variations mayoi course be made.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a gun silencer; means for admitting a scavengingfluid to and emitting said fluid from said silencer after gun iflring,said means having fluid-controlling valve means to remain closed untilthe projectile leaves the silencer.

2. In combination with a gun silencer having transverse baiiles; meansfor directing a scavenging fluid across said silencer and fordischarging said fluid from said silencer after gun 'flring,

said means having'fluid-controlling valve means to remain closed untilthe projectile leaves the 3. In combination with a gun silencer having acasing and transverse bailles therein; admissicin means fonadmitting ascavenging fluid to said casing between said baiiies, said fluidadmission means having a fluid-controlling valv\ to remain valve meanscomprising an admission valve and an emission valve, and meansconnecting said' valves fol-movement simultaneously from closed to openposition and vice versa. 1

5. A structure as specified in claim 3; together with means connectingsaid valves for movement simultaneously from closed to open position andvice versa.

6. A combined gun silencer and scavenger comprising a casing havingtransverse baflles, the top of said casing being provided with admissionports between said baiiles for admitting a scavenging fluid to thecasing after gun firing, the bottom oi said casing being provided withfluid discharge ports between said bailles, and'a valve assembly mountedon said casing top and having an inlet for the scavenging fluid, saidassembly having a rotatable valve for either permitting flow o! thefluid from said inlet to said admission ports or for preventing saidfluid flow according to the position to which said valve is turned.

'7. A combined gun silencer and scavenger comprising a casing havingtransverse battles, the top of said casing being provided with admissionports between said baflies for admitting a scavenging fluid to thecasing after gun firin the bottom .of said casing being provided withfluid discharge ports between said bailies, a valve assembly mounted onsaidcasing top and having an inlet for the scavenging fluid, saidassembly having a rotatable valve for either permitting flow of thefluid from said inlet to said admission ports or for preventing saidfluid flow according to the position to which said valve is turned, asecond valve assembly mounted on the bottom of the casing and having arotatable valve foreither placing said discharge ports in communicationwith the atmosphere or for preventing said communication according tothe position to which the valve is turned, and means connecting the twovalves for simultaneous turning from closed to open position or viceversa.

8. A combined gun silencer and scavenger comprising a casing havingtransverse baflles, the top of said casing being provided with admissionports between said baiiles for admitting a scavenging fluidto the casingafter gun firing, the bottom of said casing being, provided with fluiddischarge ports between said baflies, inclined fluid guiding plates insaid casing converging downwardly from the casing side walls to saiddischarge ports, and a valve assembly on said casing for conducting ascavenging fluid to said admission ports after gun firing.

9. A combined gun silencer and scavenger comprising a casing havingtransverse baiiles, the top of said casing being provided with admissionports between said baiiles for admitting a scavenging fluid to thecasing after gun'flring, the bottom oi said casing being provided withfluid discharge port's between said baflles, inclined -fluid guidingplates in-said casing converging downwardly from the casing side wallsto said discharge ports, a valve assembly on said casing for conductinga scavenging fluid to said admission ports'aiter gun firing, anda secondvalve assembly on said casing for placing said discharge ports incommunication-with the atmosphere after gun firing.

10. A combined gun silencer and. scavenger comprising a casing, a rearset oi transverse ladies in said casing, means mounting said rear ofbames with their edges spaced'irom the portion of the casing to aspirategases and flame top, bottom and side walls of the casing, additionaltransverse baflies mounted in said casing between said rear set and thefront wall of the casing, the edges oi said additional baflles beingsubstantially in contact with said top, and side walls of the casing,said top being provided with scavenging fluid admission ports over saidrear baflies and between said additional bailies, said bottom beingprovided with scavengbottom 5 ing fluid discharge ports under said rearbames 10 and between said additional baiiles, a valve assembly mountedon said casing and having a scavenging fluid inlet, said assembly havinga valve member for either placing said fluid inlet in communication withsaid admission ports or 15 for preventing said communication, and asecond valve assembly mounted on saidcasing and having a valve memberfor either placing said discharge ports in communication with theatmosphere or for preventing said communication.

11. A structure as specified in claim 10; together with an inclinedfluid admission means through said top over said rear bailles fordownwardly and forwardly directing a blast of the scavenging fluid toaspirate gases and flame from the gun barrel, the first mentioned valvemember having provision for placing said inclined fluid admission meansin communication with said fluid inlet when said valve member placessaid admission ports in communication with said inlet.

-12. A combined gun silencer and scavenger comprising a casing havingbaiiies, means at one side of said casing for admitting a scavengingfluid after gun firing, and means at the opposite side of said casingfor emitting said fluid, said fluid-admitting means including aninclined passage positioned to direct a blast of the scavenging fluidobliquely forward in the rear from the gun barrel.

13. A gun silencer comprising a casing. a rear set of transverse baiiiesin said casing, means mounting said rear set of baflies withth'eir edgesspaced from the top, bottom and side walls of said casing, andadditional transverse baifles mounted in said casing between said rearset and the front wall of the casing, the edges of said additionalbafiies being substantially in contact with said top, bottom and casing.

14. A gun silencer comprising a casing, a rear set of transverse baiilesin said casing, means mounting said rear set of baflies with their edgesside walls of the 50 spaced from the top. bottom and side walls oi saidcasing. a front series of transverse baifles mounted in the frontportion of said casing and disposed in relatively closely spacedrelation, and an intermediate set of transverse baiiles mounted in theintermediate portion of said casing and I disposed in relatively widelyspaced relation, the edges of said front and intermediate baflies beingsubstantially in contact with the top, bottom and side walls of thecasing.

15. A structure as specified in means for mounting said rear baiiiesbeing rigidly secured to one of said additional baiiles. and meansrigidly connecting all oi said additional baiiles with each other toprovide a single baiiie claim is; said unit bodily removable from saidcasing, saidlo casing having a removable side wall to permit removal oi!said unit.

. JOHN 1:. BROWN.

